Camarillo, Calif. — Studio Channel Islands (SCI), in celebration of its 20th anniversary, has announced Gerd Koch and Pat Richards Dodds as the 2018 Medici Award recipients. Both Koch and Dodds are founding members of the nonprofit arts organization and have contributed significantly in the development and success of the organization over the past two decades. The Medici Award is SCI’s most prestigious honor presented to individuals whose support for the arts is unparalleled and whose work to advance SCI is deserving of its highest recognition. The award will be presented at the annual Art à la Mode Gala, scheduled for September 29 at SCI’s Blackboard Gallery.

The Sim Valley Cultural Arts Center will kick off their DownStage Cabaret Series with the first installment of the High Street Broadcast on Sunday, August 19 at 7:30 pm in the intimate DownStage Theater. Doors open at 7 pm and the broadcast begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20 for General Admission and $25 for VIP Seating which includes a complimentary dessert as well as priority seating. All seating will be Cabaret style.

OJAI PLAYWRIGHTS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES ITS 21st SEASON OF THOUGHT PROVOKING EVENTS!BREAKING LIGHTFeaturing Eight New Play Workshops plusTwo Special “Intersection” Events OPC New Works Festival August 5 - 12, 2018

Ojai, CA…The Ojai Playwrights Conference (OPC), one of the nation’s most acclaimed new play development programs, announces its 21st season with another inspirational and though-provoking program featuring playwrights, new play workshop presentations, and special performance events from August 5 through 12, 2018 in Ojai, California.

Camarillo, Calif. — Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) has awarded Studio Channel Islands (SCI) a grant in the amount of $28,820 to support its Arts and Health programming. Funding will be used to expand its Memory Cafes (creative social events for individuals with memory loss and their caregivers), art classes with hospice (workshops for children in bereavement counseling) and stroke survivor art classes. Funding for the grant will come from the Ruth Daily Livingston Fund.

Presents the Third and Final Show of its 2017-2018 SEASON withSUSAN EGAN starring as BELLE inBEAUTY AND THE BEASTMusic by Alan Menken Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim RiceBook by Linda WoolvertonMusical Direction by Dan RedfeldChoreography by Cheryl BaxterDirected by Yvette Lawrence

The Original “Belle” Returns BeginningFriday, July 20 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza!

Thousand Oaks, Calif…5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) is thrilled to announce that Broadway’s original “Belle” SUSAN EGAN, will reprise her iconic performance once again (for one last time!) in its final show of its 2017-2018 season, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice, book by Linda Woolverton (based on the Disney film), musical direction by Dan Redfeld, choreography by Cheryl Baxter and directed by Yvette Lawrence. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will open on Friday, July 20, 2018 and runs through Sunday, July 29, 2018 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

For the first time ever, Gold Coast Theatre Conservatory and Young Artists Ensemble will join together to present a Summer Theatre Camp. This inaugural camp offering provides an opportunity for young people in grades 3 – 12 to present a full-length comedy play, while learning comic timing, character development, voice, and movement skills. The camp setting is Mondays through Fridays from 9 am to 3 pm, July 9 through 27. Performances are in the Theatre on the Hill at the Hillcrest Center on Friday and Saturday, July 27 and 29, 2018. Classes are in Thousand Oaks at the Four Friends Gallery, 1414 Thousand Oaks Blvd. for the first two weeks and will move up to the Theatre on the Hill, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive for the final week of tech rehearsals in the theatre. Space is limited to 20 students and there is no double-casting.